The next governor of Queensland predicts Australia will eventually become a republic.

Diplomat Penny Wensley will be sworn in at the end of month to replace Quentin Bryce, who is moving to Canberra to become governor-general in September.

Ms Wensley says until the position is redundant, it should be managed with dignity and commonsense.

"I believe that in due course the Australian people will decide they wish to become a republic, but they haven't made that decision yet," she said.

"Until such time as they do so, we have institutions and systems that need to be upheld and respected."

Ms Wensley says humanitarian and environmental issues will also be important during her term.

She says as Queensland governor she will be above politics, but she has wide interests.

"When I was Australia's ambassador for the environment I became absolutely passionate about environment and sustainable development," she said.

"I was very privileged to be asked to be the co-chairman of the first UN conference on HIV/AIDS and to be involved with that issue, and again it's something about which I feel passionately."

'Exceptional choice'

Premier Anna Bligh says Queensland will benefit from the extensive international experience of Ms Wensley.

Ms Bligh says Ms Wensley has served in countries including New Zealand, Mexico, Hong Kong and Switzerland.

"Ms Penelope Wensley has recently returned to Australia after being the ambassador to France, prior too that she was our high commissioner in India," she said.

"She will also bring a great warmth and compassion to the role of Governor, having been involved in many humanitarian and environmental issues during her international career."

Queensland Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg has welcomed the appointment and says Ms Wensley's passion for social and humanitarian issues will be a great asset to the state.

"Quentin Bryce has done an absolutely marvellous job as governor of Queensland - a role she will fill for most of this month," he said.

"Certainly I believe that Penelope Wensley will continue on in that very fine tradition of Quentin Bryce and her predecessors."

Mr Springborg says many Queenslanders will not have heard about Ms Wensley, but her credentials are of international note.

"It's not an important criteria for the public to actually know who the governor or the governor-general is," he said.

"What you have got to do though is have a person who understands the processes of Parliament and the processes of government and the Parliament is operating properly and that's the most important thing."

The vice-chancellor of the University of Queensland, Professor Paul Greenfield, has described Ms Wensley as an exceptional choice for governor.

He says Ms Wensley is the second consecutive Queensland governor to be a distinguished UQ alumna.

"She has already achieved a great deal, particularly on the international stage and we are very proud of her as an alumnus of the University of Queensland," he said.

"I wish her well and I'm sure she will do an absolutely great job.

"I think she will bring to it significant experience and significant skill."

Beattie initiative dropped

Ms Bligh has dumped an initiative of former premier Peter Beattie to involve State Parliament in the appointment of governors.

Mr Beattie used a vote of the Parliament to formally recognise Governor Quentin Bryce five years ago.

He said at the time it was a first step to the public possibly nominating future governors.

Parliament will not sit again before Ms Wensley's swearing in, but even if it did, Ms Bligh says she would not call on MPs to formally recognise the appointment.

"I've spoken to the Leader of the Opposition, Lawrence Springborg," she said.

"He and I have a shared view on this and that is that's it's not a matter frankly that should be the subject of a debate in the Parliament.

"What I'm mostly likely to do is to make a ministerial statement that will be noted and he will have an opportunity to respond, without it becoming a debate across the whole of the chamber."

The State Opposition Leader says Ms Bligh's decision is appropriate.

"I respect absolutely the role of the Premier in having the sole prerogative in choosing and recommending the governor and I think that once we start to bring any sort of politics or any sort of questioning then it descends into politics," Mr Springborg said.